Thermal breaks within a structure with integrated insulation

ABSTRACT

A structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a foundation. The foundation is configured to support the structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a steel frame attached to the foundation which includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation further includes an assembly with integrated insulation which includes a building panel with integrated insulation, the building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the building panel with integrated insulation and is also attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the second support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam and the second support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the building panel with integrated insulation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.1), and entitled, “STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION”, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “first related application”).

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.2), and entitled, “ATTACHMENT COMPONENTS FOR SECURING PORTIONS OF A STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION TO ONE ANOTHER”, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “second related application”).

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.3), and entitled, “ATTACHMENT COMPONENTS FOR SECURING PORTIONS OF A STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION TO ONE ANOTHER”, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “third related application”).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reducing energy usage in buildings has become one of the most widespread goals in the construction industry. Efforts to reduce building energy use are typically focused on the mechanical, electrical and glazing systems and not the structural system. However, one area where structural designers can reduce energy consumption is thermal bridging. Thermal bridging refers to the loss of building energy through thermal conductivity of elements that “bridge” across the insulation of a floor, wall and roof enclosure of a conditioned (i.e., heated or cooled) space when the outside temperature is warmer or colder than the interior space. While all structural framing materials contribute to thermal bridging, the amount of thermal bridging can be reduced.

While the amount of energy loss due to thermal bridging may be significant, not many U.S. structural engineers are currently considering in their building designs. The lack of thermal bridging considerations appears to be due to fundamental misconceptions about the level of impact that a structural engineer's everyday design decisions can have on the thermal efficiency of a structure. There are several reasons for this.

First, there is the unspoken premise held by many structural engineers that their sole purpose is to design an economical system to provide for the building's structural integrity. Energy efficiency is seen as the responsibility of others—architects, mechanical engineers, envelope consultants, energy modelers, and others who understand thermal issues. The thinking is that structural integrity, serviceability, and durability are the areas of focus for the structural engineer.

Second, there does not seem to be a compelling argument to do things differently. Do structural details really make a significant difference in the overall energy performance of a building? How could a wood or a steel plate that extends through the insulation plane of an exterior wall cause very much heat loss? Shouldn't there be hard numbers about how much money will be saved in the occupants' utility bills, so that a real-world comparison can be done between the savings and the cost of modified details using new materials and products to address the issue of thermal bridging?

Finally, if structural engineers are to move from the tried-and-true structural details—wood framing or steel framing and angle legs extending out to support masonry or concrete foundation, continuous wood or steel canopy and balcony beams cantilevering out from the interior structure through the building wall (see FIG. 1), and wood-to-wood or steel-to-steel connections anchoring rooftop down—what are the alternative details that can be used with a similar level of confidence? Can the profession be comfortable with a detail that introduces new materials, design, non-complicated, proprietary manufactured components? Reducing heat flow within the building envelope has benefits that extend beyond reducing energy use, such as minimizing the potential for condensation on surfaces. Also, colder interior surfaces can make people feel colder than the ambient air temperature, causing them to raise the temperature of the room or plug in an electric heater to feel comfortable.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a structure that accounts for and eliminates thermal bridging whenever possible. Further, there is a need for the structure to meet or exceed the strength requirements of conventional structures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a foundation. The foundation is configured to support the structure with integrated insulation and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a steel frame attached to the foundation. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation further includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation also being attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the building panel with integrated insulation.

Another example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a foundation. The foundation is configured to support the structure with integrated insulation and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a steel frame attached to the foundation. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation further includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation. The first building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The first building panel with integrated insulation also being attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation also includes a second building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the second surface, a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and is opposite the second edge. The second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation additionally includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation.

Another example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a foundation. The foundation is configured to support the structure with integrated insulation and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a steel frame attached to the foundation. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation further includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation. The first building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The first building panel with integrated insulation also being attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation also includes a second building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the second surface, a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and is opposite the second edge. The second building panel with integrated insulation also includes an indentation in the first surface and a c-channel attached within the indentation. The c-channel does not extend to the first surface and is configured receive the first edge of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The c-channel includes adhesive on the entire surface of the c-channel in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation additionally includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a structure with integrated insulation;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a first thermal break;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a thermal break in an exterior wall panel with integrated insulation;

FIG. 3B illustrates an example of a thermal break in an interior wall panel with integrated insulation;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a thermal break in an uninterrupted floor panel with integrated insulation;

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of a thermal break in a floor panel with integrated insulation that includes a c-channel; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dead air space 502 in a wall structure with integrated insulation 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a structure with integrated insulation 100. The structure with integrated insulation 100 can include any desired structure. For example, the structure with integrated insulation 100 can include a bunk house, a house, a restaurant, an office building, a storage building, a green house or any other desired structure. In addition, the structure with integrated insulation 100 can even be used to create spaces within other buildings. For example, large office buildings often have built in structural elements, such as a large steel frames and concrete floors and walls, but the interior can be customized according to the needs of the tenants. The structure with integrated insulation 100 can be installed within the interior to confer the benefits described below.

The structure with integrated insulation 100, in addition to being made of materials that better resist heat transfer than a traditional “stick build”, offers greater thermal efficiency by virtue of providing thermal breaks or interruptions of a thermal bridge. A thermal bridge, also called a cold bridge, is a element that penetrates an insulating material. I.e., at thermal bridge is any area of heat transfer caused by a penetration of the insulation layer by a highly conductive or noninsulating material. For example, a thermal bridge can occur in the separation between the interior (or conditioned space) and exterior environments of a building assembly (also known as the building enclosure, building envelope, or thermal envelope).

Thermal bridging is created when materials that are poor thermal insulators come into contact, allowing heat to flow through the path of least thermal resistance (R-value; or a material's effectiveness in resisting the conduction of heat) created, although nearby layers of material separated by airspace allow little heat transfer. Insulation around a thermal bridge is of little help in preventing heat loss or gain due to thermal bridging; the bridging has to be eliminated, rebuilt with a reduced cross-section or with materials that have better insulating properties, or with a section of material with low thermal conductivity installed between metal components to retard the passage of heat through a wall or window assembly, called a thermal break. Therefore, a thermal break is an interruption of a thermal bridge within a structure. Attempting to increase energy efficiency of a structure has little success if thermal bridges exist which allow for heat transfer.

FIG. 1 shows that the structure with integrated insulation 100 can include a steel frame 102. Steel is a good thermal conductor. Therefore, the structure with integrated insulation 100 built in a “traditional” manner with studs that pass through the entirety of the wall would include a high degree of thermal bridging, reducing or eliminating the energy savings created by manufacturing the walls of expanded polystyrene (EPS). Therefore, it is critical that thermal breaks be provided to eliminate thermal bridging and preserve energy savings.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a first thermal break 200. The thermal break 200 is created by eliminating air gaps between adjoining members 202 a and 202 b (collectively “adjoining members 202”). For example, at a panel attachment (as described in second related application) two adjoining panels can be joined by a tongue and grove (T&G) which ensures a tight fit and helps eliminate air gaps. The thermal break 200 is sealed by applying adhesive to the entirety of the adjoining member 202 edges. This helps fill in any minor defects and means that any air path is smaller and more branched. I.e., there is virtually no way to eliminate all air passages but adhesive on the entire adjoining surface creates a smaller number of paths, paths which have a smaller diameter, and paths which are longer all of which reduce the thermal bridging that occurs.

In particular, the adhesive is applied by spraying the adhesive along the entirety of the adjoining member 202 edges. Spraying the adhesive confers a number of advantages. In particular, spraying the adhesive creates a tight seal, which creates a better thermal break (as described above). Further, the adhesive is stronger than the insulating material (i.e., if two roof panels with integrated insulation 110 are glued together and separation is attempted, the insulating material will break before the adhesive fails) which eliminates the need for shear bracing or other structural supports that are required using current construction techniques.

The thermal break 200 is especially critical along a roof ridge line. Because warm air rises, thermal bridging along a ridge line can lead to a high amount of heat loss. I.e., as a structure warms, warmer air rises. As it becomes trapped, it is displaced by newly heated warmer air and its level continues to fall until it reaches areas where the heated air is desired. Therefore, a thermal bridge which is present along the roof ridge line allows the warmest air of the structure to escape (vs. cooler air that is at ground level) reducing the efficiency of the structure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B (collectively “FIG. 3”) illustrate an example of a thermal break 300 in a wall panel with integrated insulation 302. FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a thermal break 300 in an exterior wall panel with integrated insulation 302; and FIG. 3B illustrates an example of a thermal break 300 in an interior wall panel with integrated insulation 302. The wall panel with integrated insulation 302 is a good thermal insulator (R-17 for an interior wall and R-26 for an exterior wall). The thermal break 300 includes sections of the wall panel with integrated insulation 302 that are uninterrupted from one surface to the opposite surface (i.e., left to right in FIG. 3—such as from an interior surface to an exterior surface). I.e., whenever possible, any breaks in the wall panel 302 are limited to only partial breaks that do not pass through the thermal break 300. As used in the specification and the claims, the term “surface” shall refer to the face that forms the vertical sections of the wall panel that forms an interior or a room or exterior of a building etc. When describing the adjoining sides (i.e., to connect wall panels with integrated insulation 302, roof panels with integrated insulation, floor panels with integrated insulation, posts, sills, headers, etc.) the term “edge” will be used.

FIG. 3 shows that the wall panel 302 can include a t-beam notch 304 (as described in first related application). The t-beam notch 304 is configured to receive a t-beam. The t-beam notch 304 does not pass through the entire wall panel 302. I.e., the t-beam notches 304 only pass partially through the wall panel 302. This disrupts the potential thermal bridge created by the t-beam notches 304. In particular, the t-beam notch 304 is approximately 2.375 inches (0.125 inches for a recess and 2.25 inches for a groove) for an exterior wall and approximately 1.625 inches (0.125 inches for a recess and 1.5 inches for a groove) for an interior wall. Likewise the t-beam notch 304 is offset on one surface relative to the opposite surface. This means that from the t-beam notch 304 to the opposite surface is a thermal break 300 that is approximately 3.625 inches for an exterior wall panel 302 and approximately 2.375 inches for an interior wall panel 302. I.e., the approximately 1.25 inches (0.75 inches for an interior wall panel) which is centrally located is completely uninterrupted. Thus, little or no structural strength is lost but thermal bridging is greatly reduced. As used in the specification and the claims, the phrase “configured to” denotes an actual state of configuration that fundamentally ties recited elements to the physical characteristics of the recited structure. As a result, the phrase “configured to” reaches well beyond merely describing functional language or intended use since the phrase actively recites an actual state of configuration. As used in the specification and the claims, the term approximately shall mean that the value is within 10% of the stated value, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 3 also shows that the thermal break 300 can include a T&G connection 306. This T&G 306 connection is similar in purpose to the T&G 306 described with respect to the roof ridge above. Adhesive can be used along the entire surface of the t-beam notch 304 and the T&G 306. Placing adhesive on the entire surface eliminates possible air gaps through the connections between a wall panel 302 and an adjoining member (additional wall panel, post, sill, header, etc.) thus increasing the efficiency of the thermal break 300. I.e., the panels are joined completely, acting as a continuous thermal break along the entire surface of the wall.

FIG. 3 further shows that the thermal break 300 can include a covering 308. The covering 308 can be a panel or other element that is placed on the outside of the wall panel 302. The covering 308 can be made of EPS foam or another insulating material. The covering 308 can ensure that the t-beam not only does not pass through the wall panel with integrated insulation 302 to the opposite surface, but that the t-beam is not present on the exterior of either surface when the wall is finished. I.e., the t-beam notch 304 is entirely within the finished wall, reducing thermal bridging.

FIGS. 4A and 4B (collectively “FIG. 4”) illustrate an example of a thermal break 400 in a floor panel with integrated insulation 402 (thermal breaks in a roof panel with integrated insulation are similar). FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a thermal break 400 in an uninterrupted floor panel with integrated insulation 402; and FIG. 4B illustrates an example of a thermal break 400 in a floor panel with integrated insulation 402 that includes a c-channel. The thermal break 400 allows the owner of a structure with integrated insulation to directly control heat transfer within a building. I.e., different floors of the structure or different rooms within a structure can be heated or cooled to different levels, even when adjoining one another.

FIG. 4 shows that the thermal break 400 can include an indentation 404 (e.g., a recess and two notches) configured to receiving an I-beam. The indentation 404 is approximately the same size as one half of an I-beam (i.e., an I-beam split down the middle of the web). The I-beam is glued to the floor panel with integrated insulation along all adjoining surfaces, as described above relative to the wall panel with integrated insulation and the t-beam. Thus when the I-beam is glued to the floor panel with integrated insulation 404 any air channels are completely eliminated. In addition, the portion below the indentation 404 includes insulating material of one panel glued to an adjoining panel, leaving approximately 1.815 inches of insulating material that forms the bottom surface of the floor. I.e., the I-beams are on one surface (the top surface in FIG. 4) but do not extend to the other surface (the bottom surface in FIG. 4), eliminating or reducing thermal bridging due to the I-beam. Additionally or alternatively, the thermal break 400 can include a covering, similar to the covering 308 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 also shows that the thermal break 400 can include a c-channel indentation 406 configured to receive a c-channel. The c-channel, in turn, receives a wall, allowing a junction to be formed between the floor panel with integrated insulation 402 and a wall panel. The c-channel can be approximately 75% of the height of the c-channel indentation 406 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation into which the c-channel will be inserted. E.g., if the c-channel indentation 406 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation is approximately 2 inches high then the c-channel can be approximately 1.5 inches high. Making the c-channel smaller that the c-channel indentation 406 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation can be critical to prevent a thermal bridge that passes through the entire panel. In particular, the metal that is used to create the c-channel is a good thermal conductor. By making the c-channel smaller than the c-channel indentation 406 the c-channel does not form a continuous path for heat transfer. Additionally or alternatively, a covering over the floor panel with integrated insulation 402 and/or the attached wall panel further reduces any thermal bridging caused by the c-channel. Likewise, any trim that is installed at the corner of the wall and the floor panel with integrated insulation 402 serves as an additional thermal break 400.

FIG. 4 additionally shows that the thermal break 400 can include a rim plate 408. The rim plate 408 acts as an “end cap” on the I-beam. I.e., the rim plate 408 is a panel that is placed on the outside of the I-beam, protecting the I-beam from thermal bridging. For example, the rim plate 408 can act as a shortened floor panel with integrated insulation 402, preventing the I-beam from being exposed to external conditions and reducing the thermal bridging caused by the I-beam.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dead air space 502 in a wall structure with integrated insulation 100. The dead air space 502 can act as further insulation. I.e., the presence of the dead air space 502 can provide a thermal break that increases the R value of an exterior wall or ceiling relative to the same space as a building panel with integrated insulation. In particular, the dead air space 502 retains air that is not circulated with other air within the structure. Because the transfer from insulating material to air and back to insulating material is thermally inefficient, the dead air space 502 allows the structure with integrated insulation 100 to be installed in even the harshest climates where extremes of heat or cold can be expected. The size of the dead air space 502 can be adjusted based on expected conditions.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A structure with integrated insulation, the structure with integrated insulation comprising: a foundation, wherein the foundation is configured to: support the structure with integrated insulation; and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground; a steel frame attached to the foundation, the steel frame including: a first support beam; and a second support beam; an assembly with integrated insulation, wherein the assembly with integrated insulation: includes a building panel with integrated insulation, the building panel with integrated insulation including: a first surface; a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface; a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface; and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge; the building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation; and the building panel with integrated insulation also being attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation; and a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the building panel with integrated insulation.
 2. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the second support beam is attached to the second support beam on the first surface of the building panel with integrated insulation.
 3. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the second support beam is attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the building panel with integrated insulation.
 4. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1 further comprising a covering, the covering configured to completely cover the attachment of the first support structure to the first surface.
 5. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first support beam does not pass through to the second surface.
 6. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first building panel with integrated insulation includes a wall panel with integrated insulation.
 7. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first building panel with integrated insulation includes a floor panel with integrated insulation.
 8. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first building panel with integrated insulation includes a roof panel with integrated insulation.
 9. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first support beam includes a T-beam.
 10. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 1, wherein the first support beam includes an I-beam.
 11. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 10 further comprising a rim plate, the rim plate configured to attach to the web of the I-beam opposite the building panel with integrated insulation wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the rim plate.
 12. A structure with integrated insulation, the structure with integrated insulation comprising: a foundation, wherein the foundation is configured to: support the structure with integrated insulation; and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground; a steel frame attached to the foundation, the steel frame including: a first support beam; and a second support beam; an assembly with integrated insulation, wherein the assembly with integrated insulation: includes a first building panel with integrated insulation, the first building panel with integrated insulation including: a first surface; a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface; a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface; and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge; the first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation; includes a second building panel with integrated insulation, the second building panel with integrated insulation including: a first surface; a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the second surface; a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface; and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and is opposite the second edge; the second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation; and a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation.
 13. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 12 further comprising: a panel connection configured to attach the first edge of the first building panel with integrated insulation to the second edge of the second building panel with integrated insulation; and an adhesive, wherein the adhesive covers the entirety of the first edge of the first building panel and the second edge of the second building panel.
 14. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 12, wherein the panel connection includes a tongue on the first edge of the first building panel.
 15. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 14, wherein the panel connection includes a groove in the second building panel, wherein the groove is configured to receive the tongue.
 16. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 12, wherein the panel connection includes two tongues on the first edge of the building panel.
 17. A structure with integrated insulation, the structure with integrated insulation comprising: a foundation, wherein the foundation is configured to: support the structure with integrated insulation; and transfer the weight of the structure with integrated insulation to the ground; a steel frame attached to the foundation, the steel frame including: a first support beam; and a second support beam; an assembly with integrated insulation, wherein the assembly with integrated insulation: includes a first building panel with integrated insulation, the first building panel with integrated insulation including: a first surface; a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface; a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface; and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge; the first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation; includes a second building panel with integrated insulation, the second building panel with integrated insulation including: a first surface; a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the second surface; a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the second surface and the second surface and is opposite the second edge; and an indentation in the first surface; a c-channel attached within the indentation, wherein the c-channel: does not extend to the first surface; and is configured receive the first edge of the first building panel with integrated insulation; wherein the c-channel includes adhesive on the entire surface of the c-channel in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation; the second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation; and a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation.
 18. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 17, wherein the indentation is approximately 2 inches high.
 19. The structure with integrated insulation of claim 17, wherein the c-channel is approximately 1.5 inches high. 